Understanding the Difference Between Greek Yogurt and the Regular Kind
Yogurt has long been hailed as a health food thanks to its protein and calcium content, but in the past couple of decades, you might have noticed the conversation emphasizes a specific type: Greek yogurt. What is it about Greek yogurt that’s so special, and does this mean that regular yogurt is no longer a healthy choice? Let’s strain through some facts here.
Greek yogurt gets double strained. For starters, you can probably identify Greek yogurt based on how it looks and tastes. Greek yogurt is thicker than regular yogurt, and it has a richer, slightly tangier taste. That’s because when yogurt is made, it goes through a culturing process where bacteria is added to convert lactose—a natural sugar found in dairy—to lactic acid. Then the yogurt is strained to remove some of the liquids from the solids. In the case of Greek yogurt, it is double strained so more of the liquid is removed.
Greek yogurt has more protein. Because Greek yogurt has more of the liquid removed, it tends to be made of more milk solids—therefore, it has more protein. A serving of Greek yogurt might have twice the protein of its regular counterpart, depending on the brand. However, regular yogurt has the edge in other nutrients, as it contains more potassium and calcium.
Regular yogurt is sweeter. Because regular yogurt retains more of its natural sugars than Greek yogurt, it tends to have a sweeter taste. This can make it the better option if you’re adding it to a smoothie or if you simply want a sweet treat as an alternative to ice cream. Greek yogurt, on the other hand, because of its richness and tanginess, can be a good alternative to sour cream or mayonnaise when it’s unflavored.
Regular yogurt is more cost efficient. Because Greek yogurt goes through more complicated processing and uses more milk, it tends to be a little bit more expensive than regular yogurt. If you’re already getting plenty of protein from other sources, you might choose to balance your grocery budget by choosing the regular yogurt instead of the Greek kind.
The strained version: Both yogurts have a purpose. If you need a good source of protein and don’t mind spending a few more dollars a week, Greek yogurt is an excellent addition to your diet. But if you want something light and sweet that has an edge on calcium amount, regular yogurt might be your preferred choice.
